Vanessa's Law
Vanessa Weiss was killed just days before her 16th birthday in May 2003. In her memory, Vanessa's Law was passed a year later. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by an unlicensed 15-year-old.
Vanessa’s Law applies to all teens who commit an impaired driving crime or crash-related moving violation but applies differently whether you have a provisional license or are unlicensed.
How this law applies to unlicensed teens
If you are an unlicensed teen who was convicted of a crash-related moving violation or an alcohol/controlled substance-related violation (a violation of one or more statutes, including Driving while Impaired, Implied Consent, Open Bottle or Underage Drinking and Driving/Not a Drop Law), you will not be given a license, instruction permit or provisional license until age 18.
After turning 18, you must meet the reinstatement requirements listed on the withdrawal notice(s), pass the written test for a class D driver's license, and then apply for a Minnesota instruction permit. Once in possession of a valid instruction permit, you must hold this instruction permit for at least six months before taking the road test (or at least three months if age 19 or older).
After turning 18 you must:
- Meet the reinstatement requirements listed on your withdrawal notice
- Pass the written test for a class D driver’s license
- Apply for a Minnesota instruction permit
- Hold your instruction permit for at least 6 months (3 months if age 19 or older)
- Take your road test
How this law applies to a provisional license holder
If you are a provisional license holder whose driving privilege is revoked due to a crash-related moving violation or an alcohol/controlled substance-related violation, you cannot regain a license until age 18 or until the withdrawal period has concluded, whichever is longer.
At that time, you must complete these steps to obtain a full driver’s license.
- Comply with all requirements for reinstatement listed on the withdrawal notice. In most cases, this will be:
- Serve the withdrawal period
- Pass the DWI knowledge (written) test
- Pay the $680 reinstatement fee
- Complete a 30-hour classroom driver education course (an online computer course is unacceptable)
- Apply for a Minnesota instruction permit
- Once reinstated, hold the instruction permit for 90 days. During this 90-day period, complete six hours of behind-the-wheel driver education
- After you complete the requirements listed above, apply for a driver’s license
Not A Drop Law
The Not a Drop law says if an officer observes you operating or in physical control of a motor vehicle and determines you have been drinking, and the court determines that you committed this offense, your driving privileges will be suspended for either 30 or 180 days. The length of suspension will depend on your prior record.
Per Vanessa’s Law if you violate the Not a Drop Law and are involved in a crash, you will lose your driving privileges until you are at least 18 years old.
Provisions of the law
It is illegal for a person under age 21 to operate a motor vehicle while consuming alcoholic beverages or in the physical condition of having ingested an alcoholic beverage. If a person's alcohol concentration level is 0.08 or more, regular DWI laws may apply instead of the underage consumption-while-driving offense.
Questions?
If you have questions about Vanessa's Law, call 651-296-2025.